In mid-February 2025, Mozilla announced that it would extend support for the Firefox browser on older operating systems—specifically Windows 7, Windows 8.1, and macOS versions 10.12 through 10.14—until September 2025 . This is the second extension of support for these outdated platforms. In this way, Mozilla is looking to expand its user base by providing security updates to those users who have not yet upgraded to newer operating systems.
The original story
Initially, Mozilla planned to stop supporting Firefox on Windows 7/8.1 and macOS 10.12–10.14 in September 2024. However, recognizing the significant number of users still relying on these older systems, the company extended support until March 2025. Now, with this latest announcement, Mozilla has pushed the deadline even further. The company is going to provide Firefox updates until September 2025.
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New schedule
This extended support applies specifically to Firefox 115 ESR (Extended Support Release), a version designed for organizations and users who require long-term stability and security updates. It will receive updates until September 2025. Importantly, Mozilla has left room for further schedule modifications, stating that it may announce additional updates beyond ESR 115 if necessary.
Why extend support?
Mozilla has a notable user base running Windows 7 and older macOS versions. These users rely on Firefox as their primary browser, and cutting off support prematurely could leave them vulnerable to security risks. By extending support, Mozilla ensures that these users can continue to browse safely while giving them more time to transition to newer platforms. Also, this helps Mozilla to secure its position on the market.
While removing support for older systems helps clean up the codebase, Mozilla balances this goal with the need to support its existing user base. By providing additional time for users to upgrade and ensuring continued security updates, Mozilla strikes a balance between innovation and accessibility.
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